Wide mouth nursing unit



e 950 A. M. ALLEN 2,497,198

WIDEMOUTH NURSING UNIT' Filed Dec. 14, 1945 -/4.Z7D/l ALLEN I PatentedFeb. 14, 1950 WIDE MOUTH NURSING UNIT Adda M.'Allen, Arlington, Va,asslgnor to Dis.- pcsable Bottle Gorporation,Washington, D. 0., acorporation of Delaware 7 Application December 14, 1945, Serial No.634,948

3 Claims. .1

This invention "relates to a cap for a wide mouth, non-rigid, pliant,and disposable nursing bottle, and has for one of its objects theproduction of a simple and efiic'ient means for attaching a pliant ornon-rigid disposable container to a cap which supports a nipple of theflanged type.

A further object of this invention is the production oi a simple andefficient expansible clamping ring which fits within the open end of apliant or non-rigid disposable container .for securely bracing andholding the pliant or nonrigid disposable container in a securedposition upon a rigid neck portion being filled.

other objects and advantages of the present invention will appearthroughout the .following specification and claims.

Inthe drawing:

Figure -1 is a side elevational view of the assembled nursing unit;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the cap;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, thenipple and nipple-iretaining cap being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a perspective view'of the expansible spring-clamping =orretaining ring;

Figure 5 .is a vertical sectional view illustrating a modified clampingmeans for securing the container to the' ne'ck';

Figure 6 is a similar vertical sectional view illustrating a furthermodified form;

Figure 57 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in whichthe container may be pulled out of engagement with the supporting neck;1

Figure 8 is a side elevational view partly in section illustrating amodified form of the nursing unit cap;

Figure '9 is a perspective view of the solid wedge-like clamping orretaining ring.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that In designates thepliant or non-rigid container which may be formed in then'ature of aconventional paper cup if desired, or of any suitable material. A rigidneck H is carried by the'upper open end of the container l0, and thisrigid neck may be formed of metal, plastic, or other; desired material.The neck II is provided with an externally threaded inset portion I2which receives the conventional nipple-retaining cap I3. I preferablyweight the cap 13, as at M, to cause the nursing unit, while in use, totip toward the infants mouth while nursing and to cause the nipple P5 tolie upon the infants tongue.

The present device is designed for supporting while the container is v.2 a nipple l5 of the wide-flange type, and also to support a non-rigidcontainer it) which may be pliant, flexible and collapsible, as desired.The neck H is provided with an outwardly flaring skirt H5 at its lowerend defining an enlarged pocket I! into which the expanded container 10may recede while an infant is nursing." Thecontainer i0 is adapted totake the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 when liquid isplaced therein, and because the container is formed of pliant, flexible,or non-rigid material and is pleated, as at 9, to shape the container,the container will expand when liquid is placed therein.

The neck H isprovided with an annular ledge {8 along its upper innerface upon which the lateral flange l9 at the open end of the containerlfl rests. A split expansion retaining ring 20 formed of spring materialfits snugly in the upper end of the pliant or non-rigidcontainer l0 andfirmly clamps the container against the innor wall 21 of the neck II.This retaining ring 20 is provided with a laterally extending flange 22which overhangs the flange l9 of the container 10 and assists inclamping the container in position. The flange l5 -of the nipple l5 fitsover the flange 22 of the ring 2-0 and the upper end of the neck H, andthe parts are then firmly bound in position by the threaded cap l3. I

It should be understood that the ring 2015 detachable and because of itsexpansible nature, the ring will grip andsuspend the container and holdthe container iii in position upon the neck H. However, a pulling'fforceexerted upon the container in a downward direction will cause thecontainer to beextracted from between the neck ll and the ring 28 whenit is desired to dispose I nor wall .23 of the. neck He and theretaining,

ring 2D, and be suspended by the clamping action between the ring 20 andthe neck II.

In Figure 5, there is shown a further modified form wherein the neck I land retaining ring 20 are provided with interfitting annulartongueand-groove portions 24. These portions 24 clamp a portion of thepliant or non-rigid container Ill in a bead-like formation therebetweento provide an additional clamping means in addition to the overhanginglateral flange 22 of the ring and the flange [9 of the container 10 tosupport the container.

In the form shown in Figures 8 and 9, the neck 23 is provided with abeveled face 24 which is preferably inclined inwardly and downwardly.The upper open end of the pliant container 25 fits snugly against thisbeveled face 24 and a wedge-shaped ring 26 fits within the upper end ofthe container 25 and clamps the container 25 in a wedging action againstthe beveled face 24 to support the container in the neck 25 while thecontainer is being filled.

In all of the forms illustrated, the clamping or retaining ring such asthe rings 20 and 26 are adapted to suspend the container from the neckwhile the container is being filled and will also assist in holding thecontainer and neck together while the infant is nursing therefrom.

The outer face of the skirt [6 may be scored as indicated in Figure 1,to provide an efficient finger-gripping surface. The cup may be formedof any suitable material including cellophane and the like.

It should be understood that the flared skirt which defines an enlargedpocket ll, allows a greater capacity in the expanding container 10 thanmight otherwise be possible. Furthermore, the flared skirt constitutes afulcrum beyond the center of gravity of the neck to cause the neck totilt forwardly and downwardly toward the infants tongue while nursing.It should be understood that the container 10 may be formed of pliantnon-rigid or flexible material, or other material which possessessimilar characteristics.

Having described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A nursing unit comprising a disposable container bag of pliantmaterial having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, and areusable collar assembly made of rigid material and a reusable nursingnipple secured in sealing relation to the open end of said bag, saidcollar assembly comprising a separate inside ring surrounded by andproviding inside support for the open end edge of said bag, the minimuminterior diameter of said inside ring being substantially equal to thediameter of said bag at its open end whereby said inside ring does notsubstantially restrict the flow of liquid from the open end of said bag,said nipple having a central forwardly protruding nursing portion and asurrounding integral relatively wide perimeter area of diameter as greatas that of the open end of said bag and overlying the open end of saidbag and the forward end of said inside ring, said collar assemblyfurther comprising a separate outside retaining ring surrounding saidinside ring and the open end edge of said bag and having means to clampsaid perimeter area of said nipple in sealing engagement with andoverlying the open end of said bag.

2. A nursing unit comprising a disposable container bag of pliantmaterial having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, and areusable collar assembly made of rigid material 4 and a reusable nursingnipple secured in sealing relation to the open end of said bag, saidcollar assembly comprising a separate inside ring surrounded by andproviding inside support for the open end edge of said bag, the minimuminterior diameter of said inside ring being substantially equal to thediameter of said bag at its open end whereby said ring does notsubstantially restrict the flow of liquid from the open end of said bag,said nipple having a central forwardly protruding nursing portion and asurrounding integral laterally extending circular flange of outsidediameter greater than that of the open end of said bag and overlying theopen end of said bag a and the forward end of said inside ring, saidcollar assembly further comprising a separate outside retaining ringsurrounding said inside ring and the open end edge of said bag andhaving a forward end underlying said flange, said outside retaining ringfurther comprising an annular nipple retaining cap secured to theexterior thereof and engaging said flange to seal the latter rearwardlyagainst the forward ends of said inside and outside rings.

3. A nursing unit comprising a disposable container bag of pliantmaterial .having a closed rearward end and an open forward end, areusable collar secured in sealing relation to'the open end of said bag,said collar comprising a separate outside ring having a tubular innerwall, the open end edge area of said container fitting snugly againstsaid inner wall, said collar further comprising a separate inside ringhaving an exterior tubular wall of diameterless than that'of the innerwall of said outside ring whereby it may be inserted rearwardly into theopen end of said bag and into said outside ring to retain the open endedge area of said bag between said Walls, said inside ring having acentral opening therethrough whose minimum diameter is only slightlysmaller than the diameter of said bag whereby said inside ring does notsubstantially restrict the flow of liquid from the open end of said bag,and a nipple having a forwardly protruding nursing portion and asurrounding integral perimeter area of sufficient diameter to overliethe openend of said container secured in sealing relation to saidcollar.

ADDA-M. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN'IS France Nov. 18, 1930

